Taiwan's 2007 Holidays

In Taiwan, Republic of China, the Holidays are different than in America (duh!)
Just as in America, some are celebrated with a day off from work while others are not.

Here is the 2007 list of holidays & festivals by date:
(click the link to find out more about them)

Jan. 1: Founding Day of the Republic of China
The Republic of China (Taiwan) was founded on January 1, 1912.

Feb 4 or 5: Farmer’s Day
Marks the beginning of Spring.

Jan 28-Feb 2: Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the biggest festival celebrated in Taiwan. Lunar New Year’s Day falls on the second new moon of the lunar calendar after the winter solstice. Thus, the first day of the lunar new year falls between January 21 and February 19 on the Gregorian calendar. In 2007 Feburary 18th is the actual New Year’s Day. It will be the year of the Pig. It is the lunar year 4705. Wikipedia article

Feb. 28: 2-28 Peace Memorial Day
Marks an uprising in Taiwan that began on February 28, 1947 and was brutally repressed by the Kuomintang government, resulting in thirty-thousand civilians killed. Wikipedia article

March 3 – 11: Lantern Festival
The traditional Yuan Siao Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and since its activities center around lanterns it is also called the Lantern Festival. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year season, and so is also known as the “Little New Year.” Wikipedia article and Celebrate in Taiwan>

March 29: Youth Day
Youth Day was initially observed on May 4 in commemoration of student participation in the May Fourth Movement in 1919. It was changed to March 29 in 1943 in remembrance of the young revolutionary fighters’ role in the tenth uprising against the Manchus in Canton in 1912.

April 5: Tomb-sweeping Day
Family graves are swept, and meats, fruits, and wine are arranged before the tombs as an offering to the ghosts.Wikipedia article

May 1: Labor Day
Following the inception of Labor Day by an international alliance in 1889, five years after an “eight-hour movement” was initiated by American workers for better treatment, workers in Canton began to observe the occasion in 1920. Labor Day was not celebrated nationwide, however, until after the conclusion of the Northern Expedition in 1928.

May 13: Mother’s Day
Awards are presented to model mothers by municipal governments and women’s organizations on the second Sunday of May.

June 19: Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon boat races are held and glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves are eaten in remembrance of Cyu Yuan, a famous scholar-statesman of the Warring States Period. Cyu drowned himself after failing to convince the king of Chu to guard the kingdom against the enemy. Wikipedia article

August 8: Father’s Day
This day was designated Father’s Day in 1945 (eighth day of the eighth month of the solar year). The Chinese characters for “eight” and “father” are both pronounced ba. So eighth month and eight day is pronounced “ba ba”. That’s sort like us saying daddy.

August 27: Ghost Festival
On the first day of the seventh moon, the gates of Hades are opened and the spirits are allowed a month of feasting and revelry in the land of the living. The climax is reached on the Ghost Festival, the 15th day of Ghost Month, when great sacrificial feasts are set out in temples and in front of homes to appease wandering souls. Paper money is burned and lanterns floated on lakes and streams to deliver the dead. Wikipedia article

Sept. 3: Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day was first observed in 1955 in memory of the contributions of military servicemen during the eight-year Sino-Japanese War, which ended with the Japanese surrender on September 3, 1945.

Sept. 25: The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Families reunite in the evening to eat moon cakes and gaze at the full moon. Legend has it that Chang E was swept to the moon after swallowing a pill of immortality. She later came to be known as the moon goddess.Wikipedia article

September 28: Teacher’s Day (Confucius’ Birthday)
Teacher’s Day is observed on the birthday anniversary of Confucius, the great sage and teacher who has had far-reaching influence on Chinese philosophy and culture. Ceremonies are held at all Confucian temples, the largest one being at Taipei’s Confucian Temple, where a special dance in honor of the great teacher is performed each year. Awards are presented by the government to distinguished teachers. Wikipedia article

Double Nineth Day
The ninth day of the ninth lunar month or double nine, has too much yang and is thus a potentially dangerous date. Wikipedia article

Oct. 10: Double Tenth National Day
The Double Tenth National Day is observed in commemoration of the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911, which led to the overthrow of the Ching dynasty and the establishment of the ROC on January 1, 1912. Wikipedia article

Oct 25: Taiwan’s Retrocession Day
Japanese rule of Taiwan officially ended on October 25, 1945, so this day has been designated as Taiwan’s Retrocession Day in memory of this event.

Oct 31: Chiang Kai-shek’s Birthday
During the Chinese Civil War (1926–1949), Chiang attempted to eradicate the Chinese Communists but ultimately failed, forcing his government to retreat to Taiwan, where he continued serving as the President of the Republic of China and Director-General of the KMT for the remainder of his life. Wikipedia Article

Nov 12: Dr Sun Yat-sen Birthday
Respects are paid to the Founding Father of the nation at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall on this day. Doctors’ Day and Cultural Renaissance Day are also observed on this day. Wikipedia article

Dec 25: Constitution Day
The Constitution of the ROC was promulgated on January 1, 1947, and went into effect on December 25 of the same year.